The game of cricket was invented by the English. England has produced some of the best test players of all time. Making a test century at Lord’s is still a dream for a lot of batters. Such is the magic of playing cricket on English soil. Let’s look at the top test players from the land of cricket.
1. Jack Hobbs
Hobbs is considered one of the greatest batters of all time and the best to have played for England. His story is an inspiration and an apt example of rags to riches. He actively played between 1908 and 1930 and scored 5,410 runs for his team. Most of the memorable performances were against Australia and South Africa. His career average is 56.94. Over the years, his dignity has increased due to his noncontroversial attitude.
2. Ian Botham
Lord Botham was conferred the order of a Baron by the Queen. This all-rounder’s contribution to test cricket is legendary. He has 27 five-wicket hauls, and four 10- wicket hauls in his career from 1977 to 1992. He was known to be very efficient, full of focus, and energetic in every ball he bowled and played.
3. Alastair Cook
Playing his first and last test matches against India, Sir Alastair Cook is the fifth highest test scorer. He scored 12,472 runs with a batting average of 45.35, which is the highest for an English batsman. Furthermore, he captained England for four years. Non-controversial, Classy batsman, Goal driven captain, these three phrases define Cook’s astounding test career.
4. Len Hutton
Wisden termed Sir Hutton as one of the greatest batters to play for England. He was the leading batsman for his country. He participated in the world war, sustained threatening injuries, and recovered to play cricket again. He played 79 test matches to score 6,906 runs in his career. Given the era and pace at which cricket was played then, it is a considerable achievement.
5. James Anderson
Anderson has been England’s leading bowler for quite some time now. Debuting in 2003, he is still as consistent as he was. So far, he has scalped 657 wickets with an average economy rate of 26.36. He has not been out for a record 100 times, a feat he achieved in December 2021 against Australia.
6. David Gower
Gower always played the game consistently and elegantly. He rarely got out on silly mistakes. He played for 14 years totaling 8231 runs. He retired at his peak, foraying into television, where he was more successful.
7. Kevin Pietersen
The sports world saw a tall, handsome cricketer, full of swag, debuting in 2004. Hailing from South Africa, he represented England. Thus being controversy’s favorite child. He is most remembered for his unforgettable innings that led England to win the Ashes series in 2005. This was against a deadly Australian bowling line-up. He retired in 2014 with 8108 runs in test cricket with an average of 48.24.
8. Joe Root
Joe Root is a modern great, along with the likes of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson. He is an ambassador for this form of the game. He plays at the 3rd or 4th wicket, has scored 10,000 runs, and has a fantastic average of 50.54, which is very commendable at the pace cricket is played today. He debuted in 2012 and has been playing for England ever since.
9. Stuart Broad
This 36-year-old still plays for England though he isn’t a regular part of the team. As of 2002, he has retired from ODI and T20s and only plays test cricket. He has scalped 552 wickets in 156 test matches. He is as successful as his partner in crime, James Anderson. This seam bowler has much more to him than the famous 36 runs he gave Yuvraj Singh.
10. William Gilbert Grace
Famously known as “The-doctor” of the game, Grace was a medical practitioner in real life. His career lasted 19 years, from 1880 to 1899 when he played 22 tests. He was known to be a classy batsman and glorify the game.
